MOBILE, Alabama – If there is a single day that marks the recent turnaround in Baker's football program, it may be Oct. 11, 2013.

No, the Hornets didn’t make the playoffs last year.

What they did do on that date, though, was beat Murphy for the first time in school history.

The Hornets won 31-20 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium to improve to 1-23 all-time against the perennial power Panthers.

“I remember it well,” said Murphy coach Rick Cauley, who was offensive coordinator at the time. “We had some opportunities in the game. They recovered an onside kick and kind of stole a possession there. Then, in the second half, we came out kind of flat, and they put it on us.”

It marks the first Class 7A, Region 1 game for two teams expected to be playoff contenders.

It also might mark a turnaround for the two rivals. Cauley said, according to people he has talked with, Baker is a favorite in this game.

“I think most people consider us the underdog,” he said. “That is kind of an oddity to hear, but a lot of people are just wishing us good luck because they know the challenge we have ahead of us.”

Baker’s Jack French, the coaching veteran who has been at the helm of the Hornet turnaround the last three years, laughed when he heard that.

“I don’t know how we could be considered a favorite,” French said. “That would be mighty unusual. I don’t know if Baker has been favored to beat Murphy in the history of creation. I’m not sure what is wrong with Rick. I think he needs to talk to some different people.”

All joking aside, tonight’s game shapes up to be a classic.

Murphy rolled past Enterprise 40-13 in a jamboree game last week, while Baker opened its season with a 42-18 win over Williamson.

Cauley, in his 16th year at Murphy overall, said it hasn’t been difficult to forecast Baker’s transformation from cellar dweller to playoff contender during French’s time at the school. He said this year’s Hornets team reminded him of some of the Murphy teams in the 1990s.

“It is probably the most athletic Baker team I’ve seen,” he said. “Of course, they are always well coached. Their skill players are big and fast. The football team looks like it should represent a school that has 3,000 students. They are the real deal.”

After Friday night’s game, one team will be a “real” and immediate contender for the first 7A, Region 1 title. The other team certainly won’t be out of it, but they’ll be starting 0-1.